Amusement apparatus



April 21, 1925.

H. E-( RIEHL AMUSEMENT APPARATU Filed May' 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 gVENTU/I HE'JVEYE 12211. M f M Q,

WITNESSES A TTORNE V8 April 21, 1925.

1,535,040 H. E. RIEHL AMUSEMENT APPARATUS Filed Mag 2265, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WITNESSES k 0R Maw/aw A TTORNEYS wheel.

Patented Apr. 21, 1925.

unit's srres HENRY ELMER RIEHL, O15 BBGGKLYN, I'IEW YORK.

AMUSETllE-NT 1?: EPABATUS.

Application filed May 26,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I. HENRY Emmi: Rim-IL. a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of New York borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of York, have invented a new and useful improvement in Amusement Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has for an object to provide an amusement apparatus consisting of a vehicle having a traction wheel which is driven by means connected with a shaft, the shaft and its means being movable relatively to the body of the vehicle to move the said means into and out of operative position as may be desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide friction discs for the said means which may engage the sides of the traction wheel to drive the latter. the position of the friction discs relatively to the traction wheel serving to vary the speed of the traction When the friction discs are moved out of engagement with the traction whee the traction wheel is no longer driven and the motion of the vehicle is arrested.

Still another object of the lnvention is to provide a steering means which wi l not only serve to control the direction of movement of the vehicle but which is connected with means for moving the friction discs relatively to the traction wheel.

Additional objects of the invention will appear in the following specification in which the preferred form of my invention is described:

In the drawings similar reference characters refer to similar parts in all the views in which,

Fig. 1 is an inverted ,plan view of the ve hicle;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 22 Of Fig. 1:;

Fig. 3 is an. enlarged sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 4.-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale showing the steering column and the parts associated therewith;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 7-7 of Fig. 1;

(Fig. 8 is a ,tragmentarysectio'nal view illustrating the driving means for the Vehicle.

1923. fierial No. GL'YQ/O.

This invention relates to an amusement apparatus in which a vehicle provided an electric motor is adapted to be d-- over an electrically conductive surface which constitutes one conductor for the circuit of the electric motor, the other conductor-being constituted by an overhead wire netting or the lilac with which a trolley pole on the vehicle makes contact. In such a vehicle, power is transmitted :trom the electric motor to a large friction disc which constitutes the traction wheel of the vehicle through a pair of parallel shafts on which two smaller friction discs are disposed, one on each side of the larger disc, the driving connection being controlled by steering means which is adapted not only to he turned upon its longitudinal axis for steering purposes but is also adapted to he rocked up on a transverse aXis for controlling the driving connection.

The object of the invention is to provide improved means for starting stopping and for varying the speed of the vehicle and to this end the steering means is connectet i ith a frame slidable relatively to the b p the vehicle and the shafts and friction driv discs are carried by said so that tn rocking of said means move said dis into and out of drivingconnection ith th larger friction disc serving as a traction wheel. Preferably the "frame 's held yieldingly in a predetermined pos l v resilient means so as to trnd to breah the d .ing connection. If desired. the movement of the said frame may permit the smaller friction discs to travel from the ircumference towards the center of the lar er disc show as a traction wheel and by this means. to provide a range of speeds for the vehicle.

On referring to the drawin 's it will be seen that the vehicle 10 has a hodv 11. this body ll having an opening 12 in its bottom there being secured to the body 11 and tending into the opening 12. flanges 13 on which a frame M is adapted to s ide. This frame l i has bearings 15 in which are journalcd shafts 16, these shafts 16 being" connected by universal joints 17 with shatts 18 which are journaled in bearings 19. these bearings 19 are mounted in guide-ways 520 secured to the frame 141 and in these guideways, there are springs 21 which serve to move the bearings 19 yieldin gly inwardlv. Mounted on the shafts 18 at the rear of the bearings 19, there are friction discs 22 which are provided for engagement with. a tra tion wheel 23 which is journaled in hearings 24 secured to the frame 11. Tlonnted on the forward ends of the shaft 16. there are gears 25 which mesh with a gear 21: mounted on the shaft of a motor 2?.

It will be seen by referring to l of the drawin 's that the gear 6 si) s l long to permit of its 611g?.,flllllt with one of the gears 25 during the full. nornn-l. longitudinal movement of the frame 14: relatively to the frame 11.

13y referring to 1 ot the drawing it will he seen that the near enna of the gears and that the two engage or mesh with each other. therefore he seen that when the connected with a current tl'; L 51011 discs 22 *ill he rotated and that when the frame 14 is moved forwardly relatively to the frame 11, that the friction discs will engage the sides of helraction wheel to operate the latter. stood that the friction d. will he held in contact with the traction wheel 23 when the frame 14: is moved TfOlWViil'' -J relatively to the frame 11 by the sprir 21. The. speed of the vehicle may he varied by the movement of the friction discs *2 from the circumference of the traction wheel 26 towards its axis.

By referring); Figs. 2 and 6. it will he seen that the steering; column 27 is pivot at 28 to hrackets 29 so that the steerin col umn 2? may he moved on transve se axis, A hell crank lever 30 is pivotct brackets mounted on the frame this hell crank leverlll) is connected w ii steering column :27 h :1 link which is pivoted to the hell crai'ik lever30 at the opposite sides of the steering column The other erm of the hell crank lev r T.

cured to the frame 14-. this V posed. throue'h hez-uin s; 36 on t e fr: ll and on the rod 34- there secured a collar 37. spring); 38 hoinj! disposed hetwo n the hearino' ;i d the collar 2-? to hold the rod 34 vieldinn'ly reerwz and with it the frame 14. so that the discs willhe held out of position with the traction wheel 2?) when the steering); column 27 is in the nos? tion indicated by the full lines in Fizz. Q of the drawings. When the steerine column 27 is moved to the position indicated hy the dotted lines in 2 of the d awings and in the'direction of the seat l0 mounted on the vehicle. the friction discs 22 will he hrongrht into engagement with the traction wheel 23 and if the current has been turned on to operate the motor 27. the vehicle will he nropelled in a manner readily nnden cod. and the vehicle will he steered by manipnlating the handles ll on the shaft 4-2 mounted in the steering; column 27 and which has brackets d3 with hearings in which the steer It will also he undering wheel ll is journaled. hen the hendles 4-1 are released, the steerine; colnnm 9? will retnrn to lhe position indicated by the full lines in Fig. 2- of the drawingrs under the influence of the spring;

It will he understood that while the motor has been described as being; mounted on the vehicle frame ll. that if desired. this motor 2'? may he mounted on the l ra e ll The vehicle shown with a front seal M and a rear seat 4:53 but any desired arrangement may he made with reference to the seats on the vehicle to meet spot rcquiri ments 1 of the vehicle is prolhe frame 1;. vided with a curved periphery in which is secured a cnshioni11,; memher 3 3 so that when a plurality of vehicles are employc ll the cushioning; members 4:6 will lessen jars and shocks when there is a collision hetween two vehicles. The vehicle when in operrtion is preferably supported on two wheels,

one the steering wheel 44 and the other the traction wheel .i'ldditional suppm'ts ll are secured to the underside of the vchul frame '11 and depend the-ref 111 to hold the vehicle supported in an inclined msition when not in use.

As will best he seen hy referring! to Figs. 1, end 8 of the drawings two auoliary wheels l8 are provided one disposed at each side of the traction. wheel #3. ll hen the vehicle is operated with the body 11. in a horizontal plane, the auitiliairywheels 4.8 will he off the ground. but when necessarv the auxiliary wheels 48' will prevent the hicle from falling to one side. he sated.

- the side supports ll" will assist the auxiliary wheels 48 in supporting the vehicle when the vehicle is not in use. The rear support ell serves to prevent the vehicle from tippi ,1 re: rwardly.

Having thus described in y invention what I claim as new and desire to protect by Irish tors Patent is:

l. In a vehicle having; a traction wheel. a friction disc for movement into engagement with the traction wheel, means for driving" by the steering column independently of the steering mechanism for controlling the movement of the discs relatively to the traclJEOH wheel.

Ill)

seaoao 3. In a vehicle having a traction wheel, two friction discs positioned for movement into engagement one with each side of the traction wheel, a steering column pivoted to the vehicle body, steering mechanism operable at the steering column and means adapted to be actuated by the steering column independently of the steering mechanism for moving the friction discs relatively to the traction wheel.

4:. ln a vehicle having a traction wheel and steering means, a bearing resilient means for moving the bearing in the direction of the plane of movement of the traction wheel, a shaft journaled in the bearing, a friction disc on the shaft for engaging the traction wheels. means connected with the steering means for moving the bearing longitudinally of the plane of movement of the traction wheel.

5. In a vehicle having a traction wheel and steering means, afriction disc for engaging the traction wheel, means for moving the friction disc in the direction of the plane of movement of the traction wheel, and means connected with the steering means for operating the second mentioned means longitudinally of the said plane of movement.

6. In a vehicle having a traction wheel and steering means, a frame mounted to move relatively to the body of the vehicle, two hearings on the frame, one at each side of the plane of movement of the traction wheel, shafts journaled in the bearings, friction discs on the shafts for engaging the traction wheel, means for driving the shafts and means connected with the steering means for moving the frame relatively to the body of the vehicle.

7. In a vehicle having a traction wheel, a frame mounted to move relatively to the bod of the vehicle. two hearings on the frame one at each side of the plane of movement of the traction wheel, shafts jonrnaled in the bearings, friction discs on the shafts for engaging the traction wheel, means for driving the shafts. a steering column pivoted to the body of the vehicle and means adapted to be operated by the steering column for moving the frame relatively to the body of the vehicle.

8. In a vehicle having a traction wheel, a bearing, resilient means for moving the bearing in the direction of the plane of movement of the traction wheel, a shaft jonrnaled in the bearing, a friction disc on the shaft for engaging the traction wheel, a steering column pivoted to the body of the vehicle and means operable by the steering column for moving the bearing longi tndinally of the plane of movement of the traction wheel,

9. In a vehicle having a traction wheel, a friction disc for engaging the traction wheel, means for moving the friction disc in the direction of the plane of movement of the traction wheel, means for driving the friction disc, a steering column for the vehicle and means operable by the steering' column for moving the friction disc longitudinally on the said plane of movement.

10. in a vehicle having a traction wheel and steering means, a frame slidable on the body of the vehicle, bearings on the frame each side of the plane of movement of the traction wheel, shafts journaled in the bearings, means to drive the shafts, friction discs on the shaft and means connected with the steering means to move the frame relatively to the body of the vehicle to engage the traction wheel with the friction discs.

11. In a vehicle having a traction wheel and steering means, a motor having a shaft mounted on the vehicle, a frame slidable on the body of the vehicle, hearings on the frame at each side of the plane of movement of the traction wheel, shafts journaled in the bearings, means to drive the shafts. friction discs on the shafts, means connected with the steering means to move the frame relatively to the body of the vehicle to engage the traction wheel with the friction discs and means by which the motor shaft is adapted to drive the second mentioned shafts.

12. In a vehicle having a traction wheel, a friction disc for movement into engagement with the traction wheel, means for driving the disc, a steering column pivoted to the body of the vehicle, steering mechanism operable at the steering column and means adapted to be actuated by the steering column independently of the steering mechanism for controlling the movement of the disc relative to the tract-ion wheel.

13. In a vehicle having a traction wheel, a frame mounted to move relatively to the body of the vehicle, two bearings on the frame, one at each side of the plane of movement of the traction wheel, shafts journaled in the bearings, friction discs on the shafts for engaging the traction wheel, a steering column pivoted to the body of the vehicle, means adapted to be operated by the steering column for moving the frame relatively to the body of the vehicle, a steering wheel and means disposed in the steering column for operating the steering wheel.

14. In a vehicle having a traction wheel, a frame slidable on the body of the vehicle, a bearing on the frame, a shaft journaled in the bearing, means to drive the shaft, a friction disc mounted on the shaft for engaging the traction wheel, resilient means for holding the frame in a pro-determined position relatively to the body of the vehicle, a pivoted steering column and means connected with the steering column for moving the frame against the tension of the said resilient means.

15. In a vehicle having two Wheels, one a traction Wheel and the other a steering wheel, a friction disc for engaging the traction Wheel, means for driving the friction disc, a pivoted steering column having means connected with the steering Wheel for controlling the latter and means adapted to be actuated by the steering column for moving the friction disc relatively to the trac- 10 tion Wheel.

16. In a vehicle having two wheels, one a traction and the other a steering Wheel, a friction disc for engaging the traction wheel, means for driving the friction disc, a steering column mounted on the body of the vehicle and movable relatively thereto, means connected with the steering column {or controlling the steering Wheel, and means adagted to be actuated by the steering column for moving the friction disc into engagement with the traction Wheel.

HENRY ELMER RIEHL. 

